1. Home
  2. ICD-10-CM Codes
  3. H00–H59
  4. H49-H52
  5. H50
  6. 2024 ICD-10-CM Code H50.6
Version 2024
Non-Billable Code

2024 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code H50.6

Mechanical strabismus

ICD-10-CM Code:
H50.6
ICD-10 Code for:
Mechanical strabismus
Is Billable?
Not Valid for Submission
Code Navigator:

Code Classification

  • Diseases of the eye and adnexa
    (H00–H59)
    • Disorders of ocular muscles, binocular movement, accommodation and refraction
      (H49-H52)
      • Other strabismus
        (H50)

H50.6 is a non-specific and non-billable diagnosis code code, consider using a code with a higher level of specificity for a diagnosis of mechanical strabismus. The code is not specific and is NOT valid for the year 2024 for the submission of HIPAA-covered transactions. Category or Header define the heading of a category of codes that may be further subdivided by the use of 4th, 5th, 6th or 7th characters.

Specific Coding Applicable to Mechanical strabismus

Non-specific codes like H50.6 require more digits to indicate the appropriate level of specificity. Consider using any of the following ICD-10-CM codes with a higher level of specificity when coding for mechanical strabismus:

  • Use H50.60 for Mechanical strabismus, unspecified - BILLABLE CODE

  • H50.61 for Brown's sheath syndrome - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H50.611 for Brown's sheath syndrome, right eye - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H50.612 for Brown's sheath syndrome, left eye - BILLABLE CODE

  • H50.62 for Inferior oblique muscle entrapment - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H50.621 for Inferior oblique muscle entrapment, right eye - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H50.622 for Inferior oblique muscle entrapment, left eye - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H50.629 for Inferior oblique muscle entrapment, unspecified eye - BILLABLE CODE

  • H50.63 for Inferior rectus muscle entrapment - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H50.631 for Inferior rectus muscle entrapment, right eye - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H50.632 for Inferior rectus muscle entrapment, left eye - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H50.639 for Inferior rectus muscle entrapment, unspecified eye - BILLABLE CODE

  • H50.64 for Lateral rectus muscle entrapment - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H50.641 for Lateral rectus muscle entrapment, right eye - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H50.642 for Lateral rectus muscle entrapment, left eye - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H50.649 for Lateral rectus muscle entrapment, unspecified eye - BILLABLE CODE

  • H50.65 for Medial rectus muscle entrapment - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H50.651 for Medial rectus muscle entrapment, right eye - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H50.652 for Medial rectus muscle entrapment, left eye - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H50.659 for Medial rectus muscle entrapment, unspecified eye - BILLABLE CODE

  • H50.66 for Superior oblique muscle entrapment - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H50.661 for Superior oblique muscle entrapment, right eye - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H50.662 for Superior oblique muscle entrapment, left eye - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H50.669 for Superior oblique muscle entrapment, unspecified eye - BILLABLE CODE

  • H50.67 for Superior rectus muscle entrapment - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H50.671 for Superior rectus muscle entrapment, right eye - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H50.672 for Superior rectus muscle entrapment, left eye - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H50.679 for Superior rectus muscle entrapment, unspecified eye - BILLABLE CODE

  • H50.68 for Extraocular muscle entrapment, unspecified - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H50.681 for Extraocular muscle entrapment, unspecified, right eye - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H50.682 for Extraocular muscle entrapment, unspecified, left eye - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H50.689 for Extraocular muscle entrapment, unspecified, unspecified eye - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H50.69 for Other mechanical strabismus - BILLABLE CODE

Clinical Information

  • Esotropia

    a form of ocular misalignment characterized by an excessive convergence of the visual axes, resulting in a "cross-eye" appearance. an example of this condition occurs when paralysis of the lateral rectus muscle causes an abnormal inward deviation of one eye on attempted gaze.

  • Exotropia

    a form of ocular misalignment where the visual axes diverge inappropriately. for example, medial rectus muscle weakness may produce this condition as the affected eye will deviate laterally upon attempted forward gaze. an exotropia occurs due to the relatively unopposed force exerted on the eye by the lateral rectus muscle, which pulls the eye in an outward direction.

  • Strabismus

    misalignment of the visual axes of the eyes. in comitant strabismus the degree of ocular misalignment does not vary with the direction of gaze. in noncomitant strabismus the degree of misalignment varies depending on direction of gaze or which eye is fixating on the target. (miller, walsh & hoyt's clinical neuro-ophthalmology, 4th ed, p641)

Patient Education


Eye Movement Disorders

When you look at an object, you're using several muscles to move both eyes to focus on it. If you have a problem with the muscles, the eyes don't work properly.

There are many kinds of eye movement disorders. Two common ones are:

  • Strabismus - a disorder in which the two eyes don't line up in the same direction. This results in "crossed eyes" or "walleye."
  • Nystagmus - fast, uncontrollable movements of the eyes, sometimes called "dancing eyes"

Some eye movement disorders are present at birth. Others develop over time and may be associated with other problems, such as injuries. Treatments include glasses, patches, eye muscle exercises, and surgery. There is no cure for some kinds of eye movement disorders, such as most kinds of nystagmus.


[Learn More in MedlinePlus]

Code History

  • FY 2024 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2023 through 9/30/2024
  • FY 2023 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2022 through 9/30/2023
  • FY 2022 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2021 through 9/30/2022
  • FY 2021 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2020 through 9/30/2021
  • FY 2020 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2019 through 9/30/2020
  • FY 2019 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2018 through 9/30/2019
  • FY 2018 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2017 through 9/30/2018
  • FY 2017 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2016 through 9/30/2017
  • FY 2016 - New Code, effective from 10/1/2015 through 9/30/2016. This was the first year ICD-10-CM was implemented into the HIPAA code set.